November 2013

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TO KNOW

Schedule change prompts debate

student meeting. From left to right: Sophomore Sahana Raju, senior Mark Moody, sophomore Maddie Wilson, freshman Daniel Sun, principal Lynn Whitlock and juniors Avalon Bonlie, Lucia Tarantino and Michael McClelland discuss possibilities for the new eight-class period schedule to be implemented during the 2014-2015 school year during a meeting after school Oct. 24. photo by franny brancati

becca king, co-editor & christine mckinnie, staff writer oughly a month after announcing the plan to switch to a block schedule, principal Lyn Whitlock stressed a positive effect of the change—preparation for the real world.

“Most jobs do not come in small chunks where you’re changing what you’re doing every 15 or 20 minutes,” she said.

Whitlock is focused on determining whether to include an enrichment period – a half hour for students to meet with teachers for tutor-

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the number of homecoming tickets sold

varsity wins

November 19, 2013

Dulaney High School Timonium, Maryland

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ing or for club meetings -- paired with a lunch period. She has said that she will announce her decision before winter break. Among concerns that she must consider is whether enrichment is impractical here due to the school’s enrollment (1,875 students). Hereford High School, the nearest Baltimore County school with block and an enrichment period, has an enrollment of 1, 315 students.

Meantime, the building continues to buzz with talk about the pros and cons of the pending change.

Among those with praise for block is busi-

ness chairman block will: Patrick Holt, who • Begin 2014-2015 said block’s lon• Allow for the same ger class periods eight classes all year permit teachers to • Extend classes to roughly 80 minutes relay information • Feature four classes with fewer pauses. daily Students benefit too, he said.

“This allows them to focus on fewer courses in a day and become see block schedule, page 2

Court coronated, basks in homecoming limelight Homecoming court. From left to right: Juniors Andrew Abell and Kalie Paranzino join sophomores Nina Gayleard and Jack Franz during the culminating moment of the Oct. 31 pep rally in the stadium. Also named to the royal court were seniors Nick Bond and Samantha Smyth and freshmen Leah Schwatz and Xavier Engleton.

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For more homecoming week coverage, see page 12.

the number of students named to All-County chorus, band and orchestra

photo by lucia tarantino

New teacher evaluation debuts to mixed reviews

bubble trouble

sarah feustle, staff writer & christine condon, copy editor onsense.”

That’s what chemistry teacher Karl Geckle said of Baltimore County’s new teacher evaluation system. Geckle said that the system is a waste of his time. He added that he’d rather spend his time teaching and preparing for his chemistry classes, instead of compiling proof that he is doing so.

The new evaluation system calls for teachers to fill a binder with “artiEnglish teacher Kathy Roeder’s artifact binder facts” pertaining to the four domains photo by lucia tarantino of teaching: planning and preparation,

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news opinion sports features

new evaluation method will be too timeconsuming and get in the way of the time teachers need to learn their subject matter, plan lessons and get to know their students.

English teacher Meekah Hopkins calls the system tedious. She prefers the old method of evaluation, in which teachers were observed in person and were trusted to continue effectively teaching without needing to compile proof that they were doing their job. see evaluations, page 3

FYI:

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classroom environment, instruction and professional responsibilities. The system was created by Charlotte Danielson, “an internationally-recognized expert in the area of teacher effectiveness” according to her website.

However, some wonder if Danielson truly has the credentials necessary to create such a system. In a June 2013 Huffington Post Article, author Alan Singer wrote, “I have had difficulty discovering who Charlotte Danielson really is and what her qualifications are for developing a teacher evaluation system.”

Some faculty members, such as government teacher Julie Marx, worry that the

American Education Week Nov. 18-22

Meet the Coaches Night

Nov. 25 6 p.m.

Classic Cafeteria

Thanksgiving Break Nov. 28-29 schools closed

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

Financial Aid Night Dec. 4 7 p.m.

Satellite Cafeteria

Fall Play, Canned Food “Midsummer’s Drive Ends Dec. 6 Jersey,” Dec. 5-7 7:30 p.m.

Auditorium

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news

Schedule change prompts debate Block schedule, continued from page 1 much more efficient in the use of their study and homework time.”

Having worked at a school that switched to block, Holt said the long-term benefits outweigh the short term discomfort.

Critics of the switch to block, which is required by the school system, point to the school’s superior Advanced Placement Test scores as evidence that the current system works and shouldn’t be changed. A.P. History teacher John Wagner and A.P. Psychology teacher Phil Bressler each said block would hurt students when they spoke out during the Oct. 21 staff meeting during which Whitlock first opened the discussion.

Junior Michael McClelland has also spoken out against block. During the Oct. 24 student

panel meeting with Whitlock, he cited a disadvantage to classes meeting on alternating days (A Day/B Days).

“Kids are not responsible enough to keep up with homework because they won’t see the teacher for a day,” McClelland said. “They’ll fall behind.”

At that same meeting, sophomore Sahana Raju endorsed the potential for getting more done during longer class periods. She based that on her experience in A.P. Biology.

Some subjects seem suited for block. Biology teacher Kathy Maddox Debarra said she looks forward to having the time to complete labs or Socratic seminars.

Music chairman Rebecca Welker, who has taught block, said she has seen it help and hurt.

Among positives? Less transition time and fewer classes daily. Negatives?

“Spending 90 minutes with a class of

Staff studies enrichment sierra prior & audrey stenersen, staff writers ive teachers scoped out Hereford High School’s block schedule format and came back with the same reaction: they liked it more than they thought they would.

English teacher Dirk Frey, science teacher Katherine Maddox Debarra, math teacher Kendra Zeller, social studies Sean Bowmaster and Spanish teacher Maureen Burke visited Hereford High Oct. 28 and shared their findings with principal Lyn Whitlock.

While on their tour, they talked to Hereford administrators, teachers and students and viewed various classes in addition to the midday enrichment period.

Students at Hereford sign up in the morning for this engagement in a teacher’s classroom or in the auditorium. They report to that location before or after lunch for a halfhour of study hall where they may get help from teachers, work on homework or just socialize.

“It was surprising to see how engaged students were in doing work,” science teacher

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Maddox Debarra said. Like the other visiting teachers, she praised the enrichment period.

“It gives teachers and students a chance to recharge and refocus during a busy school day.”

Both Frey and Burke agreed.

“I just love the idea of being able to do those things during the day,” Burke said, but she added that having an enrichment period requires work.

“It takes cooperating with everybody on board including the administration,” she said.

At Hereford, a different administrator monitors students in the auditorium during each enrichment period.

Though Zeller and Maddox Debarra admit the change will be hard, a block format makes the most sense in the long run, they said.

“Things will need to change,” Maddox Debarra said. “Students will have to work on lengthening their attention span and teachers will have to change their lessons to be sure they don’t just lecture for 80-90 minutes.”

“It takes cooperating with everybody on board, including the administration,”

november 19, 2013

students who don’t get along or don’t care,” Welker said.

As for students, she noted that some find it tough to stay put and remain focused for so long.

Although there has been extensive research on the block schedule in general, a Midwestern State University paper states that there has not been substantial research performed specifically on the A-Day/B-Day system. A College Board study shows that students enrolled in full-year A.P. courses perform better than those enrolled in semester courses. It does not compare the efficacy of block schedules to a traditional seven-period schedule.

Staff writers audrey stenerson, sierra prior and taylor wenzl contributed to this report.

Consultant shares insight on block

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ben merenbloom, opinion editor he challenges of the switch to block scheduling will center not on building the schedule, but getting people to accept that they need to do something different; so says education consultant Elliot Merenbloom.

A chief concern? “Getting teachers to accept that they can’t use the lesson plans that they’ve used for 25 years,” Merenbloom said.

The former Baltimore County Public Schools teacher and principal most commonly sees seven-period day and four-period A Day/B Day schedules in the schools he consults.

For students to achieve, they need to be engaged.

“Students remember 10 percent of what they hear, 15 percent of what they read and 90 percent of what they do,” Merenbloom said. Having the longer time periods gives students the chance to do it, rather than hear the teacher say it, he said.

Teachers can’t simply push two lesson plans together or lecture.“An American history teacher has to quickly realize that he can’t lecture for 80 or 90 minutes,” Merenbloom said.

Merenbloom advises teachers to pace themselves, stay positive and seek help from the start.

“They have to work together and share what works and what doesn’t.”

For the full story, see our website.

Students with block offer more pros than cons christine mckinnie, sierra prior & taylor wenzl, staff writers ill a block schedule work here?

Students who attend those schools argue that their schedule helps them get more done, and that it’s easier to get their homework done with only four classes a day.

Former Lion and junior Brady White transferred from a seven-period schedule to a blocking schedule at St Paul’s School for Boys last year. White, who called his transition easy, said he prefers the blocking schedule. Now he has more time to study.

Hereford High School junior Deanna Bracken said that when she was in middle school, where class periods were shorter, she felt rushed.

“You get a lot more time to study and comprehend everything before you have to go back to class again,” Hereford senior Lauren Litwak said.

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NEWS LINE

SOFTWARE DEBUTS NAVIANCE, a new software program being set up this year, will enable students to access personality and interest inventories, search for and apply to colleges and look for scholarships. It also enables parents to see their student’s activity, teachers to upload recommendations and counselors to send transcripts and other documents.

Underclassmen will sign up for this program in Nov. and Dec.

PROGRAM BEGINS Eight students here will travel to China this spring as ambassadors in the Baltimore County Public Schools Chinese Cultural Exchange Program. Sophomores Caitlin Battle-McDonald, Raphael Bechtold, Peter Kaul, L.B. Martin, James Morton, Maura Pezzulla, Emily Shipley and Ni Tial will host Chinese students in the winter, and then travel to Xi’an, China in the summer for six to eight weeks. This marks the eighth year of the program.

DONATE ELECTRONICS The Student Government Organization’s holiday electronics drive for the needy runs through Dec. 10. Staff and students may donate gently used iPods, MP3 players, game systems with controllers, Kindles, tablets, headphones and Leapsters.

Personal information must be deleted from the devices before donating. The drop-off point is in Pete Merani’s room, room 109.

SENIORS HONORED Seniors Nick Bond and Franny Brancati have won the Timonium Optimist Club 2013 Youth Appreciation Award.

The school nominates two well-rounded seniors every year for this award.

MUSICIANS QUALIFY

Another plus?

Block schedule students like those at Hereford also have an enrichment period--- a 1.5 hour free period during lunch to study, read or do homework.

Carver High School block schedule. Hereford High School’s students who do not sign up for an activity during the junior Caroline enrichment period must report to the auditorium. Administrators monitor the room.

Cohen agrees that photo by madison wood her school’s block schedule works transferred here from Hereford af- be in one place. You must build in to students’ advantage. There’s ter 15 years. He noted that through multiple activities so students can less homework to deal with after the course of a high school career move around.” school, she said, providing more students on a block schedule can He’s a proponent of an enrichtime for after school commitments. squeeze in one more Advanced ment period paired with lunch Additionally, she said that holding Placement course annually, which shifts. class every other day minimizes some may like.

“For students, it’s a win-win. I boredom. can see no draw backs. It’s a pheIt’s great for English, he said.

Bracken agrees with such ben“You can go in depth. You can nominal opportunity for clubs and efits. But there’s a catch. seize those teachable moments that for getting help with work.”

“The downside is that if you miss might just seem like a digression For teachers, it’s an adjustment one day of school you basically during a 45-minute class.” to things like taking attendance for miss two days of work,” Bracken For teachers, he said, there are no students’ enrichment periods. He said. added it’s easier to schedule block real drawbacks, only a challenge.

English chairman Jason Bowman “It’s a long time for students to with enrichment.

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Of the 63 Students who qualified for All County Orchestra or Band, nine were first chairs for their instruments.

They are: freshman Jessica Yan; sophomores Lifan Long, Jane Song and Adam Meltzer; junior Ben Lee and seniors Handong Park, Frank Wu, John Anukem and Mark Hubbert. Sophomores Joyce Song and Sumin Woo qualified for second chair. As for the All County Choir, 18 students here tried out; 15 made it.

ALUMnI inducted Eight people were inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame Nov. 2. The athletes and their graduation years are: gymnast Nancy Kearns, 1972; lacrosse players Geoffrey Nordberg and Christopher O’Brien, 1981 as well as Michael Obringer, 2002; Alice Marsh, 2004; runner Tenke Zoltani, 2002; and wrestler James Knox, 2005. Gymnastics coach Frank Yapps, who coached from 1967 to 1979, was also inducted.

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news

Holidays collide, fun ensues

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Science teacher Karl Geckle teaches his sixth period Gifted and Talented Chemistry class during first quarter. photo by sarah feustle

New teacher evaluation debuts to mixed reviews evaluations, continued from page 1

But, for some teachers, compiling such proof is natural.

“I’ve always maintained a ‘professional portfolio’. For me gathering artifacts is a natural part of the process, not really a big deal or something that I should be required to do.” said English teacher Dirk Frey.

“It is something we have to accept if we want to continue teaching. I do think it is important to remember and keep track of your own achievements, for your own benefit,” said math teacher Kendra Zeller.

English department chairman Jason Bowman added that the new system doesn’t drastically change his responsibilities; the only notable difference was that he had to place his papers in an “artifact binder”, instead of a regular file.

“It provides a richer set of talk-

november 19, 2013

the griffin

ing points to use when teachers and administrators sit down and have a discussion about a lesson or end of year evaluation,” administrator John Billingslea said. Billingslea added that the system’s true goal is to improve all teachers, rather than just identify and remove the poor ones.

But Geckle says that the only true way to reform the education system is to provide more incentive to become a teacher, thereby bringing better teachers to the classrooms. Such concerns seem especially relevant in light of the results of an annual MetLife teacher satisfaction survey showing that teacher satisfaction has dropped to its lowest point in 25 years.

In his opinion, no proof is needed of a job well done.

“The proof is you guys- my students. That’s all,” Geckle said.

bennett heitt, staff writer urkey? Check. Cranberry sauce and stuffing?

Check. Ice cream cake and latkes? Really?

“It’s going to be Thanksgiving with a spattering of Chanukah mixed in,” math teacher Donna Weber said about Nov. 28, which is Thanksgiving, Chanukah and her husband’s birthday. Family favorites for the three occasions are all set, Weber said, adding that she and her crew will combine their holiday festivities into one big event.

According to the ChabadLubavitch Media Center, the last time this happened nationwide (Texas has a complicated story) was in 1899.

As Chanukah celebrants light their second candle this Turkey Day, Ravens fans mark an Spot survey: aberration as well. Sophomore Favorite thanksgiving foods Jordan Nicolette will relocate, thanks to his birthday present – tickets to the Ravens-Steelers 7% Yams game.

It’s a Thanksgiving tailgateTurkey 17% Turkey birthday party extravaganza,” Nicolette said. He along with 30% Mashed Potatoes family and friends will stop by his grandparents’ house to retrieve their Thanksgiving feast 18% Stuffing with all the trimmings.

“Of course there is going to Pumpkin Pie 13% be stuffing…definitely potatoes of the mashed sort,” NiStudents were surveyed via tally sheets in both colette said.

A slight change: the tradi- cafeterias during A, B and D lunches tional Pictionary game will be limited to football images.

scene

dulaney

Cupcake wars. Senior Sukh Gurung and sophomore Destiny Evans frost cupcakes during the fourth annual Cupcake Wars in Belinda Knott’s food and nutrition period 4 class on Oct. 29. Cupcakes were scored on creativity, flavor, appearance, overall deliciousness and use of healthy food substitutes, like avocadoes or apple sauce. Period four winners were seniors Moiz Sadiq, Tyler Fisher, Cece Ukejianya and Liz Guiser, and sophomore Sydney Gholson. photo by alex wright

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opinion

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editors, The middle staircase is essential to travel throughout Dulaney High School and should be bidirectional. For one thing, blocking the center staircase only makes the other staircases more crowded and harder to use. It’s almost dangerous because they are so congested.

Crowd control isn’t the only problem though; blocking the middle staircase makes students late for class. People in classes just around the center staircase could travel with much more ease if administration would allow us to use it both ways. I know this from experience; I have guitar in M-1, just under the middle staircase. The class I have directly after is engineering, which is located beyond the classic cafeteria. If I walk up the center staircase, across the breezeway and past the cafeteria, I can be one of the first people in my classroom.

As it happens, there are days when I am unable to slip past the teacher standing guard. On one such day I was half way up the staircase when a teacher stopped all of us from walking up and made us turn around. I then obliged and found an alternate root, only to show up to class 2 minutes late.

During the first week of school I also had a problem of being late. Upon explaining the staircase issue to my teacher, he told me to “try a different way.” Little did he know that every day I was late that first week I was testing alternate routes. All of those routes delivered me to class late, well all but one: the middle staircase.

I’m sure other students have either complained about the congested side staircases or being late because of the middle staircase rule, so I don’t understand why changes can’t be made. After all the students would know what it is like getting to class, with limited travel options, better than the teachers or administration.

-Abbey Cool, junior

Our mission: To enlighten and to entertain

Corrections to october edition:

• In “Students plant trees to memorialize alum” (page 1) the alum memorialized by the tree planters was Margaret White, class of 1965.

• In “Griffith takes race in her zone” (page 7) senior Isabel Griffith’s time was mislabeled. Griffith’s time was mislabelled, the correct time was 17:49.

• In “The Post” (page 9) chemistry teacher Karl Geckle actually said that the finale of “Breaking Bad”—not the entire series—was too neat and tidy for him.

• In “An Artist Among Us: Sisters approach drawing with differing styles, subjects” (page 10), an art teacher was misnamed. The name should have read Joanna Waring.

We regret the errors and apologize.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

@dulaneygriffin

the griffin Dulaney High School 255 E. Padonia Rd. Timonium, Maryland (410) 887-7633 co-editors Franny Brancati, Becca King, Kyra Twohy deputy editors Jessica Hung, Andrew Oh, Thea Zurek business manager Kyra Twohy adviser Maria Hiaasen project managers Audrey Fanshaw, Gina Lee

november 19, 2013

SAT alternative scrutinized Essays fix college application process

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livvy klunk, staff writer et’s say you botched the SAT despite your above par grade point average and extensive effort to do well in school. Wouldn’t you venture to say that the SAT did not properly represent your level of intellectual thinking?

Bard College, a prestigious liberal arts university in New York, would agree. The school explained to the New York Times that this fall, it has expanded its prestigious reputation by allowing an alternative admissions process for students who may not have aced the SAT: four 2,500 word research papers that come together for a total of 10,000 words. Applicants have three months to research, write and submit their papers.

As for the topics of the papers there are 21 ques- photo illustration by becca king tions total, each allotted into three different categories. Applicants must answer one question from each of the three categories, and the fourth essay can be from any category.

Students have three months from the day the essay ques-

tions are posted to the day all four of the essays are due.

Some might say that three months is not enough time to write 10,000 words of research on topics you’ve never heard of, but offering another option for the admissions process will help to further expand the school’s diversity and its ability to enrich a larger student body. It will allow the most eligible applicants to stand out and show a true display of their intellectual potential, and it will show a much-needed level of determination that college requires.

Bard’s president, Leon Botstein, told the New York Times that he believes the new admissions process will be a “return to basics” and “common sense.”

I agree with Botstein: the new process will be simple yet effective in that it will display the absolute best candidates. After all, how can one standardized test fully represent all of the qualities that make a student the perfect fit for their college of choice?

A necessary stress: defending the SAT

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sarah hampton, staff writer he SAT and I have a volatile relationship. Some questions I love because they are simple and I breeze through, but others I despise because they are challenging and I end up skipping them. If the SAT and I were a couple, we would constantly be breaking up and making up-- like most meaningless high school relationships.

But the SAT and I need to get over our differences. I need the SAT. I need the hours of mindnumbing multiple choice sections and thick SAT practice books collecting dust on my shelf. My heart can’t go on without the SAT. My educational career can’t go on without the SAT. According to The College Board, the SAT is a “globally recognized indicator.” If this test is nonsensical, then why would hundreds of colleges require students to take the test? Colleges filled with intellectuals and professors would have stopped this process long ago if it were not effective.

The SAT is just the mega version of all the school scantron tests. In a September New York Times article, Leon Bostein, the president of Bard College, was quoted saying that the

whole SAT testing system is “loaded with a lot of nonsense that has nothing to do with learning.” Bard is now allowing applicants to write four 2,500 research papers instead of submitting their SAT scores. Test taking has a lot to do with learning. In fact, in some college courses, tests consist of 50 percent of a student’s grade. I would much rather spend 3 hours and 45 minutes taking the SAT than spend grueling weeks trying to write four research papers.

I imagine that in Botstein’s perfect world, every student would breeze through four research papers gracefully and intelligently. Only 10,000 words? What a cinch. Yet if all the 2.5 million students who apply to colleges in the United States every year wrote four research papers, the admissions offices throughout the nation would be reading 10 million research papers. What does 10 million research papers mean? The college application process will be even longer.

The focus should be on what students do in college, not what students do to get into college.

“My heart can’t go on without the SAT”

EDITORIAL:

Appearance of insincerity mars message from BCPS

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pposition has been building for the new scheduling format and there’s good reason for it.

The issue is not a lack of flexibility among students and teachers, but rather the reasons that are given, or not given, for making the switch from the seven to eight class block schedule.

The Baltimore Sun reports that Superintendent Dallas Dance hired a corporate consultant to study the eight-period sched-

ule. The company discovered that implementing the new scheduling model would decrease the number of needed teachers as compared to the current seven-period system and, consequently, save money.

It’s very easy to take these facts and postulate that the schedule change was not made with the students in mind. Even when assistant superintendent Maria Lowry states that the change was not motivated by a reduction in faculty and finances,

news editors Meghan Reinhardt features editors Kalie Paranzino opinion editors Alex Goldberg, Ben Merenbloom sports editors Joe Pezzula, Drew Van Wagner chief technician Andrew Oh deputy technician Sarah Feustle photography/art editors Jen Siegel, Katie Walters copy editors Tyler Beckey, Christine Condon, Liz Gillum, Sophie Golden, Yusuf Mahmood, Daniela Rice deputy sports editor Andrew Sugarman Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

it still looks like money was the driving factor.

And the county has only commented on what was not motivation for the change; they have not explicitly stated what was.

County officials say the new system will give students more latitude in their choice of classes. While this is a legitimate benefit, it feels like a last-ditch effort to create the impression that students were considered first; this is especially true when the same county-

hired consulting company found that the eight-period schedule gives students less time in each class.

The problem is not the block schedule itself, but the possibilities that the decision was not made in the best interest of students and that in the end, students are getting the short end of the stick.

Weigh in on the issue. Tweet the editors (@DulaneyGriffin) with hashtag #blockschedule.

The Griffin welcomes story ideas, commentaries and letters to the editor. These may be brought to room 115, placed in Maria Hiaasen’s mailbox in the office or emailed to dulaneygriffin@ bcps.org. All submissions are subject to editing and must be signed. The Griffin Editorial Board makes all final decisions regarding content.

Interested in advertising in The Griffin or purchasing any photos seen in this issue? Use the same contact information.

The Griffin is printed seven times a year and is distributed in homerooms.

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opinion

november 19, 2013

New standards might work W

mady bates, staff writer hen I was 10, my world came crashing down. I moved to a new state, I had a new school and I was never going to learn how to play the recorder. I could’ve used Common Core.

The Common Core is a new set of standards that has been adopted by 47 states. It began as a movement by the National Governors Association to create a nationwide set of standards for education. No more moving from Texas the year before music classes started, to Utah the year after recorder were out and violins were in. Money from the president’s “Race to the Top” grant was offered as incentive to states who chose to adopt the standards.

The opposition has used the media to propagandize the standards, claiming they’re dumbing down education.

Case-in-point: the outburst of Ellicott City resident Robert Small at a Maryland State Department of Education public forum on the Common Core on

Sept. 19.

For anybody who missed it on YouTube, a brouhaha erupted when Small and Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dallas Dance clashed.

Small criticized the standards and said Common Core will prepare students for community college. Dance asked him to sit down. Small continued to speak, so a

“The opposition has used the media to propagandize the standards” security officer led Small from the meeting. Police filed charges against Small but later dropped them.

The common core isn’t telling teachers how to teach, and it most certainly isn’t making our children “common”.

From what I‘ve read on the Balti-

more Sun’s website, The Common Core will amp up intensity. It will promote analytical thinking, emphasize synthesizing factual material and increase writing in every class. For example, a second grade class reads a book. When the main character lies, the students will look at outside sources and conduct ethical discussions on lying.

In addition, each county or school was asked to create a curriculum that complies with the standards. The Common Core’s website says it provides lists of suggested readings that the curricula writers may include. Part of this will also include introducing more nonfiction writings to English classes. College and career readiness needs to focus on more complex texts, something our current system is lacking. These standards will prepare students to read, write and research across the curriculum in subjects such as history and science.

The Common Core isn’t perfect. And, quite frankly, the opposition is unmerited and misinformed. Our quality of education has been in decline for quite some time (just look at the results from last year’s HSA and MSA). So I recommend we make it work, and the Common Core ought to be the first step in the right direction for much needed reform.

Deconstructing the block schedule

RIFF

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finn hasson, columnist nd on the eighth day Dr. Dallas Dance, infallible in judgment, supreme in wisdom, said, “Let there be mass confusion!”

So his minions obeyed. They set their minds toward Dance’s nefarious ends. They steepled their fingers and rubbed their brows, deep in concentration. Finally, one individual jumped from his seat and proclaimed: “Let’s make them change their schedules!” The other board members nodded their heads, and Dr. Dance signed his consent to the plan. To do research and to design the schedule changes, the county paid S3 (Scholastic Scheduling Solutions) a meager $285,000.

Now we find ourselves here. A schedule change shoved down our throats, bent over the proverbial barrel by higher-ups who may not have a solid grip on reality. But hey, least we have “choices.” Do we want a four-period block schedule with or without enrichment? “Well,” you may say, “I want neither.

I’m satisfied with my day now.” But that’s not a choice. Giving us the option to choose between a schedule with enrichment or one without is like giving a prisoner a choice between being shot or hanged- either way, the results are far from desirable.

If you are a student reading this, don’t bother forming your own opinion about the schedule, because you’re opinion doesn’t count. Yes, we are the largest demographic in the school, vastly outnumbering teachers, staff and coaches. And yes, we did elect a student government for

“Let there be mass confusion!”

OP-ART: katie walters

Try to dance and spin computer lull away With recent news that the Baltimore County Public Schools have expedited Wi-Fi improvements for elementary schools, postponing improvements for high schools, it seemed appropriate to contemplate ways to occupy one’s self while waiting for notoriously slow BCPS computers. stephanie rountree, staff writer tudents here are among the many across the country who are facing hard times. In fact, it appears that 75 percent of public schools feel our pain. Alas, as of now there is nothing that can cure this epidemic, as our monetary supplies are limited. What is this horrific, monstrous force that is tearing down the sacred establishment that is public school education? Why, slow computers of course!

Chances are that at one point or another in your

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academic life you will spend a great deal of your time typing on, waiting on or maybe even trying to maim and severely injure one of these delightfully decrepit pieces of machinery. If you think about it, there is a multitude of things that you can do to fill the void for that loading computer.

So before you raise your fist to the innocent computer, read my ideas on how you can spend your time:

the YMCA, even a pirouette.

And yes, jazz hands are permitted.

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nterpretive Swivel-Chair Dancing- Let’s be honest, the force of that moveable chair is irresistible. So instead of looking like a dreidel while waiting for Microsoft Word to save your poem, why not make a production of it? I saw a very enticing swivel performance of Swan Lake last year. Also, since it is interpretive, there are no rules! So feel free to do some chorus line kicks,

op-art: maddy brancati

ibrary Yoga- I know as well as anyone that being a student is stressful. One of my favorite ways to cool down is doing yoga! There are many poses that you can bust out, from the broken pencil to the shushing librarian. My favorite is the sleeping student-- so relaxing.

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mpromptu Staring Contest- Obviously, after a

certain point you will eventually get tired of waiting for Internet Explorer to load.

Now is the time when it is acceptable for you to turn to the person next you, preferably someone you do not know. All you have to do now is just stare. When they jump from their chair and bolt for the exit, you are finally free to Google the cat videos you so graciously waited 15 minutes to do.

Good Luck!

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

handling situations like this (seriously, if there were a workshop for student government, a team of education professors couldn’t cook up a better scenario). But apparently, none of that matters, considering that nobody mentioned to the students that the schedule was going to change, let alone ask us our opinions on it.

After the journalism class was given a heads up, junior Avalon Bonlie mentioned to principal Lyn Whitlock that there was absolutely no student input in the decision-making process. To correct this, Whitlock appointed Mark Moody to select and head a student committee. Consider that: Bonlie was worried that students were being excluded, so Whitlock appointed the head of the Student Government Organization to personally select everyone who would represent the school. So, if there was someone perfectly capable but unknown to Moody, they were not selected to the committee.

One would think that students would elect a student committee, but our administrative gurus decided that was the wrong way to go. The fact that Moody is the president of the SGO does little to dispel the feeling that the committee was purely cosmetic, tacked on at the last second and only under student pressure.

If Dance’s goal for this whole debacle was to stir up as much dust and resentment as possible, it was undoubtedly a resounding success. If the administration’s goal was to leave students in a state of quasi-representation, they also succeeded.

But if the administration actually wanted this pill to go down easily for all parties involved, it wasn’t so successful. The most important thing for us to take out of this experiment in poor decision-making is that students cannot expect to be included. Sadly, in the future, it seems we’ll need to nag and prod just to be informed of any goings-on, not to mention actually having our opinions implemented.

6

the griffin

sports

athletes

month

Varsity

november 19, 2013

Season finishes impress

Sheppy leads with spirit kristen meek, staff writer enior captain Julian Sheppy is accustomed to being able to see the whole game from the back of the field. He led a strong defensive wall which helped the team obtain its winning record of 8-4.

At home, Sheppy is part of the attacking end as president of the Student Athletic julian sheppy photos by jen siegel Leadership Board. He makes sure he is setting an example for the rest of the team and the entire school to follow by displaying spirit and school pride.

“He makes a commitment to not only just the soccer team but to Dulaney athletics as a whole,” junior manager Eli Oliver said. His coaches had similar observations.

“Julian leads by example with his play. He loves soccer and you can tell,” assistant coach Karl Geckle said. “He’s an aggressive defensive player who helped us create offense out of the back field. He’s versatile. Whenever we had a big situation, he stepped up.”

Sheppy noted that his size and strength can bolster the team in tight games.

“I’m not a quarterback that needs to look over an offensive line,” Sheppy said, adding that his size allows him to body people out when going up for headers.

Sheppy remembers one instance in the game against Eastern Technical High School where his size came in handy against one of the opposing team’s forwards.

“There was one guy coming out, trying to keep the pressure going and I just wrecked him. It was completely legal and fair. I got the ball and I got it away. Plus we were losing so it was a good way to get my anger out without throwing punches.”

The team’s season ended in a heated 0-1 loss to Perry Hall during regional playoffs, but Sheppy will continue to play as part of Baltimore County’s first level all-county team.

“I’ll miss the chemistry and cohesion everyone has. It’s just a good group of guys that like to hang out with each other and have a good time throughout the season,” Sheppy said.

Varsity Volleyball

S

The Volleyball team congregates for a cheer before the Nov. 13 state semi-final game in Ritchie Coliseum at University of Maryland at College Park. The team swept High Point High School 3-0. At press time, the team was preparing for the state championship final against Severna Park.

Senior Darla Svoboda scored 17 kills. Junior Milan Amos scored eight kills. Senior Melaney Nicholls served backto-back aces during the first and second sets. Sophomore Mallory Svoboda made four kills and a block to score.

Badminton

tim milan & hannah milan, staff writer icker, receiver, safety.

Sophomore Alex Wood plays them all.

Wood, who didn’t play last year because of a lower back injury, has returned with an impressive season. He has six touchdowns, three of which were in the homecoming alex wood photo by jen siegel game against Chesapeake.

“Alex is probably the best player on our team. He hits really hard and makes big plays,” sophomore Patrick Driscoll said.

Wood’s performance sparked the interest of the varsity coaches, and Wood was asked to play on the varsity team. Wood declined.

“It is more fun on JV playing with friends,” Wood said.

He said that he plans to try out for varsity next year.

“He works extremely hard on a consistent basis at practice,” Driscoll said, which has contributed to the team’s success this season. He added that Wood has a lot to offer the team because of his versatility.

“Kickers typically aren’t known for their ability to make tackles,” junior varsity football coach Jason Trost said. Yet in practice Wood defied this by showing he is one of the team’s hardest hitters.

His skills have developed through five years of practice. Wood started playing when he was 10 years old as an “Older but Lighter” player in the 9-10 league run through the Cockeysville recreation Even though he has devoted years to football, Wood said it’s not his primary sport, lacrosse. He said that playing these two sports makes him better at both.

“When I’m trying to run up the field and weave though a couple of guys to try to get down the field with the ball, [my lacrosse experience] really helps” Wood said, adding football develops his coordination and balance during lacrosse.

In addition to the lower back injury previously mentioned, Wood lacerated his spleen during a football game in eighth grade.

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Boys Golf

photo by jen siegel

Sophomore Michelle Wu redrops the bird in an attempt to win the point. She and her partner senior Chris Chen won county championships in mixed doubles, but the team lost 5-6 at Towson on Oct. 24. The team ended the season with a record of 15-1.

Girls Golf

photo by lifetouch

junior Varsity Kicker proves versatile, devoted

For the full story by Stephanie Rountree, see our website.

photo by beebe rose

Sophomore Chase Wassel prepares to make a putt during the team’s Oct. 9 practice at Fox Hollow Golf Course.

The team won County Championships speared by the firstplace finish of sophomore Bobby Mulreaney and was 5-0 this season.

Allied Soccer

Freshman Samantha Lannon lines up a putt during a match earlier this fall. The team was 5-0 and won the county championship led by a first-place finish by senior Jane Moon.

For the full story by Andrew Sugarman, see our website

photo by jen siegel

photo from dulaneyathletics.org

Manager junior Confidence Nwanguma celebrates with players seniors Curtis Brown and Cooper Ramsey Brown’s goal in a game earlier this fall.

The team completed the season with a 1-2-4 record.

Standout season ends in overtime loss meghan reinhardt, staff writer espite dominant post season play, the girls varsity field hockey team’s season ended in the state semi-final game against Wootton on Oct. 4 in the final seconds of overtime with a penalty corner that was played out after time had expired.

But the team’s season was not deprived of success. During the season, the team defeated rival Hereford High School in the regular season, and went on to beat Catonsville High School both in the county championship and in their playoff run to states.

Adding to their county championship, the team earned a regional championship title after defeating Old Mill High School in overtime 1-0. “[It] felt like we just won the Super Bowl,” senior defender Lauren Batlas

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THE FIELD HOCKEY TEAM congregates for a peptalk before the Oct. 28 game against Catonsville.

Varsity won 1-0 to advance to regional finals. by ellie jackson

said.

Earlier in the season, senior forward Maddie Manzoni said that the team’s hard work and dedication is what made them a special group.

“We did tons of conditioning, and it definitely showed,” senior forward Kati Williams said. “Also for big games, coach would give us words to tape on our stick which was cool. For every game we had a quote that was representative of where we stood and how to play.”

Girls varsity field hockey coach Kel-

lie Fialcowitz felt lucky this season.

“I have been blessed with an amazing coaching staff, a very supportive athletic director and the hardest working group of girls a coach could ask for,” Fialcowitz said after the team’s regional championship win.

The team certainly didn’t want their season to come to this abrupt end.

“When everyone is crying about having to go home at 2:30 after school, you know it’s been a good season,” Batlas said.

SEnior KEEGAN COLEGROVE sprints away from the goal chased by senior defender Maribeth Anderson as sophmore midfielder Annie Sachs and junior goalie Burke McManus during the Oct. 27 Boys versus Girls Backyard Battle Game. photo by jen siegel

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

7

the griffin

sports

november 19, 2013

Boys Varsity Soccer

photo by jen siegel

athletes

month

Varsity

Junior Brian Kochesfahani trys to lose a Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School defender in the game on Oct. 31, which the Lions won 10-0. The Lions finished 8-4-2 and ended its season with a loss ot Perry Hall High School in the blank game.

Schaeffler’s skills shine

liz gillum, staff writer he best part about playing field hockey is putting work in and then seeing results,” senior Sarah Schaeffler said about her experience playing field hockey. With their new coach, Kellie Fialcowitz, Schaeffler said the main focus of the team is hard work.

Sarah Schaeffler As one of the captains this photos by jen siegel year, she helped to lead the varsity field hockey team all the way to state semi-finals.

Every year she went to the county championships they lost to Hereford High School, until now. Schaeffler said they went into the game with more confidence than they ever have before.

“We deserve it, it’s our year,” Schaeffler said.

Scoring both goals at the county game, Schaeffler helped lead the team to victory against Catonsville High School, making them county champions. She said it was so rewarding to see all the hours of hard work, practice and conditioning pay off.

Schaeffler’s leadership and determination are two major qualities her teammates see in her on and off the field.

“I think she has the most hustle on the field,” junior Megan Wienhold said. “I notice that about her every game.”

Junior Madison Mitzel says she is an encouraging leader.

According to Mitzel, Schaeffler always has a positive attitude and gives the team a pep talk before the games.

Fialcowitz said Schaeffler is definitely a hard worker and an absolute joy to coach. According to Fialcowitz, Schaeffler has improved greatly throughout the season.

“Her stick skills have gone through the roof during this season,” Fialcowitz said. “She’s a leader, a role model and a huge asset to the team.”

Schaeffler has been playing field hockey since she was in second grade. Schaeffler said all her friends decided to play together. They all got really into it and she’s loved it ever since.

Although nothing is set in stone, Schaeffler wants to and has plans to continue playing field hockey in college.

“T

Field Hockey Senior Maddie Manzoni dribbles past Old Mill High School’s defender in the Oct. 30 game, which they won in overtime 1-0. They lost to Wootton 0-1in the state semifinals and finished the season 13-6.

photo by nick moore

Varsity Football

photo by kyra twohy

Junior Nick Koger eludes the Towson High School defense in the Oct. 9 rivalry game, which the Lions lost 21-62. The team ended the season 3-7, the same record as last season.

Girls Varsity Soccer

photo by kyra twohy

Sophomore Melanie Gandy dribbles past a Sparrows Point High School forward at the Oct. 15 Spirit Game.

The Lions lost 0-4, and they finished the season 8-8.

Boys Cross Country

photo by kyra twohy

Girls Cross Country Senior Isabel Griffiths completes her firstplace finish at the state championship at McDaniel College on Nov. 9. She finished in 18:26 to the state champion title.

The team placed ninth overall, bolstered by standout performances by seniors Lily Klein, Alison Schwartz, Abby Cahalan and Natalie Giordana, junior Maria Andrade and sophomore Brynn Jones.

Junior Adolfo Carvalho and sophomores Eric Walz and Sean Smyth start the Nov. 9 Maryland Boys Varsity State Championship. The three finished in the top 25 to lead the team to its second-place finish behind Severna Park.

For the full story by Caroline Wilmer and Elijah Boswell, see our website. photo by beebe rose

junior Varsity Sun beams on court, in class

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photo by beebe rose

photo by kyra twohy

For JV teams’ photo by beebe rose

records and scores see our website.

Net sports showcase dominance, perserverance It’s not crazy, It’s sports

A

joe pezzulla, sports editor thletes everywhere dedicate countless blood, sweat and tears to achieve the monumental accomplishment of an undefeated season. According to ESPN, such a feat has only been done ONCE in the entire history of professional American sports: by the 1972 Miami Dolphins. In fact, every year the retired members of that team still gather to celebrate their flawless season.

Coach Cary Lyons and the varsity volleyball team may need such a tradition, seeing as they too accomplished the seemingly impossible--a perfect record of 15-0.

Not only did they win each and every one of their games, they did so in

cristina lópez, staff writer etermined. Strong. Consistent. Brilliant.

These are words used by teammates to describe Sophie Sun, a standout freshman volleyball player as well as a standout student. Sun is taking Pre-Calculus and A.P. Biology but still manages SOfie Sun to balance her athletics with photos by jen siegel schoolwork.

“It is very tough. I try to plan out a schedule so when I don’t have volleyball games I try to just do all the work I can,” Sun said.

Sun began playing volleyball in seventh grade, and has stuck with it ever since. She plans on keeping volleyball in her life, and is working to improve her passing skills. Although Sun sees flaws in her own game, teammates look up to her for her playing skill and her leadership on and off the court.

“She’s really inspired me to change my routines during games,” freshman Alyssa Wheeler said.

Sun also has her own routines. Every time she serves, Sun twirls the ball, bounces it twice, spins it so the writing on the ball is facing her, tosses it and serves.

Sun’s best skills are her setting and her serving. The team did not have any close games this season, winning each one with a score of 2-0. Junior Varsity Coach Chelsea Mead attributes much of this success to Sun’s confidence and ability on the court.

“I can always count on her to make smart decisions and to bring us close to half our points off of her serve,” Mead said.

Sun is also captain of the team along with freshman Francesca LaRocca, who said that Sun is easy to work with as a captain because she is so organized. The team has a shirt schedule where they have a different shirt to wear each day for practice and games, and every player must be wearing the same shirt. Sun is in charge of telling her teammates what shirt to wear each day.

Sun’s teammates sum up her success best. “Sophie Sun, number one, getting it done.”

dominant fashion. Possibly the most impressive statistic is the fact that they never lost a set, ending with a set record of 45-0. In many cases, particularly in their Oct. 15 match against Milford Mill High School, they never allowed their opponent to score in the double digits in any of their sets.

Senior and First Team All-County selection Darla Svoboda is the unquestionable leader of the team. The team also utilizes senior Alexis Howatt and sophomore Mallory Svoboda, a duo of setters. Senior libero Melaney Nicholls further bolsters the unstoppable squad.

The team beat both Western High School and Catonsville High School in straight sets during their playoff run.

They advanced to the regional championship, where they faced Howard High School and won although they lost their first set of the year.

The state semi-final match followed.

High Point High School was no match for the laser-focused team, who dismantled the opposition in three straight sets. At press time, the team was preparing to face Severna Park High School in the state championship game.

Varsity volleyball isn’t the only net sport that exuded its dominance this season. The co-ed varsity badmin-

ton team boasted an undefeated regular season record, the only blemish being a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to Towson in the county championship game.

The badminton squad managed to annihilate any competition that came their way, with a net ratio of 158 wins to only 8 losses. The team featured five county individual gold medal winners: seniors Chris Chen, Monica Kuo, Anna Vuong and Jessica Hung and sophomore Michelle Wu.

Senior darla svoboda serves at the Nov. 13 state semi-final game against High Point. The Lions won 3-0. photo by beebe rose

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

8

features

the griffin

november 19, 2013

Gibes, self discovery part of LGBT life T

he U.S. Senate has passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The act, which prevents discrimination based on gender orientation or gender identity in the workplace, passed with a 64-32 vote Nov. 7. Currently, 29 states do not have legislation protecting LGBT rights in the workplace. The act will likely not get to the floor of the House of Representatives because of opposition from Speaker of the House Republican John Boehener.

With this in mind, an anonymous transgender student was interviewed to discuss life as an LGBT teen. An avid artist and musician, the student shared experiences with staff writer Sara Glasser.

What does it mean to you to be transgender?

tain parts of my body-- I can’t even say the proper names for things. Students, for the most part, don’t know. I really try to keep it on the down-low.

Do you feel like the rest of you (your talents, your personality, etc) are often overlooked because you are transgender?

I think my actual gender, the fact that I’m male, is often overshadowed by the ‘trans’ prefix. That’s why I’m stealth. That’s why I don’t tell people unless I’m close to them because I don’t want the ‘trans’ to get in the way of the ‘male’.

How and when did you know you were transgendered?

There was evidence of it all the way back to when I was little; I swore up and down I was going to grow up to be a boy. There were times when I would try to pee standing up and that would just make a mess. It took me almost two years to come to terms with it, but the feeling was always there. I never made a huge deal out of it because I didn’t really register that as not being normal. I never went out of my way to be one or the other [gender]. I was just myself.

It’s to the point where I’m ashamed to even talk about cer-

Last year in gym some of the guys would call me ‘it’. That is absolutely unacceptable. If you don’t know someone’s gender, either avoid using personal pronouns or use gender neutral ones. Don’t ever, ever resort to calling someone ‘it’ because that’s dehumanizing.

How has being transgender affected your life?

Do you have anything more to add about your experiences as a transgender?

What is the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity?

How open about are you about being transgender?

Do you recall any specific situations in which you felt discriminated against because of being transgender?

It’s painful. It causes a lot of discomfort and anxiety and what’s called dysphoria. It can manifest itself in lots of different ways. Dysphoria is an intense feeling of discomfort with your own self-- It’s to the point where my dysphoria’s been so bad that I had a panic attack even thinking about taking a shower. Sometimes I’d get out of the shower and cry.

To be transgender in the traditional sense is to be born as one sex and have something in your brain tell you that you are the other sex. In my case, I was born female and I’ve been uncomfortable as such, so I just know that I’m male.

Sexual orientation is who you’re attracted to. I’m a guy, so if I was strictly attracted to girls, I’d be straight. If I were strictly attracted to men, I’d be gay. Gender identity is different [than sexual orientation]. With gender identity, it doesn’t matter who you’re attracted to. You can be trans and have any sexual orientation. You can be a gay trans guy. With gender identity disorder, there’s a fundamental disconnect between your sex and your gender, sex being your physical characteristics and gender being what’s in your head.

wagon yet of helping me. My mom is still in denial. I think she’ll come to terms, but it will be a while.

graphic by avalon bonlie

How accepting have others been about you being transgender?

All of my teachers have been fantastic with it. Some of them have gone above and beyond and really helped me out. I’ve not had any bad reactions from teachers. My aunt is trying to wrap her mind around it. She’s trying to be as supportive as she can. She will listen to me, but that’s as far as she can go. She accepts it but she’s not on the band-

Find us at http://dulaneygriffin.org.

Just because someone is transgender doesn’t mean they’re not a real boy or a real girl. They’re just as much a real boy or real girl as anyone who was born with matching sex and gender. You shouldn’t look at them any differently, no matter what their parts are.

I’m not afraid to like what I like, regardless of what it’s gendered as, and neither should anyone else. And that includes men who were born with an XY chromosome.

I have freaking Winnie the Pooh on my bed. I don’t even care that it’s not super macho manly; it doesn’t mean I’m not a guy. It just means that I think Winnie the Pooh is freaking adorable!

What advice do you have for other transgender individuals who don’t have your kind of courage to come out to the open?

Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not who you are.

Don’t take crap from anyone. You don’t have to be what other people expect you to be.

9

features

the griffin

november 19, 2013

club close-up : Rube Goldberg

Quirky gadgets engage

S

senior Ennis Um stacks dominoes in order to contribute to the complex contraptions at a Rube Goldberg club this fall.

photo by alex wright

erin briggs, staff writer tudents scattered all about the classroom, preparing their parts of the machine.

A cascade of dominos clattered.

“Oh no,” senior Handong Park said. “These dominos are so stressful.”

Meanwhile, other students worked on an intricate pulley system, created ramps and decided who should bring in more parts.

Such was the scene at an October meeting of the Rube Goldberg club.

“It’s basically reaction chains for fun,” senior Laura Schammel said, explaining the club’s project. “We plan out machines to do a simple task, and then we complicate them.”

About 20 students are members of the Rube Goldberg club, which was started through a series of tweets one night last January between 2013 graduate Aysha Khan and then junior Katie Walters.

“My input was pretty much making sure this

quality idea that Katie had didn’t get lost in the cavernous depths of her timeline,” Khan said.

President and founder of the club, Walters (currently a senior) was determined to start the club after getting help from Khan to construct a club description and obtain teacher sponsors.

Among her duties is rounding up materials for projects. For example, a recent Facebook post requested items such as a rod, hot glue, a hook, glitter, a triangle block and a bagel guillotine.

Senior Shelby Poffenberg came up with the idea of having the club’s first machine open up a pizza box. Poffenberg decided it’s an easy task and the club would get to eat pizza afterwards.

In order to have all of the materials to make this machine, the club members have to bring in the items necessary or buy what they need with money collected from dues. The club keeps all of its materials in Steve Labbe’s room.

The club meets Thursdays in room 320.

Chewing gum: minty and marvelous or gooey and gross? ogy in Melbourne, Australia reveals that chewing sugar free gum reduces anxiety by 17 percent and stress by 16 percent.

Even if it annoys teachers, sugar-free gum is good for your oral health. While sugared gum can lead to tooth decay, cavities and gum disease, sugarless gum is different. If you want your cavities to disappear, but you want to chew gum, buy sugar free; it’ll likely have xylitol. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener found in fruits and vegetables and has fewer calories than regular sugar.

Forget sweetness in gum altogether for a moment. Chewing increases the production of saliva in your mouth. Saliva neutralizes the acid in your mouth. If there’s too much sugar in your mouth, the acid overwhelms the saliva. Acidity on the teeth leads to the damaging of protective tooth enamel, which causes cavities.

Science teacher John Enders finds gum on the bottom of his classroom desks and scrapes it into a beaker to show to his classes.

The beaker warns against chewing gum in his class.

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photo by ben merenbloom

LTRC

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mess. If they are, Frey has consequences.

World language chairman Meghann Ervin’s view is similar to Frey’s. She says that as long as the gum doesn’t limit the student’s ability to speak the language, it’s fine. If she notices it, which means it is distracting to her, the student must get rid of it.

If the gum chewer is discreet, most teachers don’t mind students’ chewing gum in class. In fact, some teachers even chew gum in class. The reasons for chewing gum are simple: it tastes good, keeps the chewer awake, relieves stress and suppresses hunger.

Junior Annie Brantigan chews it when she’s sick to sooth her throat. Other students chew it when they’re tired because the flavor helps to keep them awake. Chewing gum, regardless of the flavor or sugar content, has been found to raise alertness and concentration over a short period of time.

A study by Swinburne University of Technol-

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SNOW CLUB

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ben merenbloom, opinion editor orever.

That’s the hyperbole that chief custodian Eric Broaddus uses to describe the amount of time he and his staff devote to cleaning up gum.

“In the summer, when we flip over the tables in the cafeteria, there are about a thousand pieces stuck under them. It’s gross,” he said.

Every year, science teacher John Enders scrapes gum from under his classroom desks and drops them in a beaker to show his new students. He’s making a point: if you want to chew gum, you can chew this gum. But, some teachers prefer students don’t chew gum at all.

“The main reason is that crap gets everywhere,” English teacher Dirk Frey said.

Frey used to give out detentions for chewing gum. Now, he doesn’t mind as much as long as the student isn’t being distracting or making a

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the griffin

10 features

post Sophomore Hojin Yoon wears many hats, usually not a crab one. He serves as recording secretary for the sophomore class, treasurer of Dulaney Rhapsody and secretary of the Key Club. A starter for boys doubles on the badminton team, he also plays the alto saxophone in the school’s Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band. He recently found time to field a few questions from staff writer Holly Sutley.

set of music, like what I hear on the announcements or something. If I find something I kind of like, I’ll play it. I took a liking to “Sweater Weather” (by The Neighbourhood) after hearing it on the announcements. Same with “Sprawl II” (by Arcade Fire). I got it after hearing it in English class. I really like classical music as well, and, of course, jazz.

Brochin chats with Spectrum

Following?

See, my dad uses Twitter. I think Facebook is sufficient. I don’t see the need to invest time in Twitter. It seems like when you have posts, they don’t have or carry as much information as on Facebook.

On Facebook you can interact more. And then there’s the whole complex thing about hash-tagging. I’d rather watch what pops up on my Facebook newsfeed, the things people aren’t afraid to share. There’s a page that I like called “I F’ng Like Science.”

It’s very reliable and has good sources. I haven’t checked on it recently, but there are really cool things like how they observe animals and use their studies.

Reading?

Other than manga? I like manga, especially “Shingeku no Kyojin”, and have been reading it a lot. I’ve recently taken a liking to Rick Riordan because he was a young author that I used to really like.

I hadn’t really read any books by him recently so I’ve been rereading books like “The Red Pyramid.” It was a book that I really liked back in middle school.

I like sci-fi and fantasy. Have you heard of “I am Number Four”(by Pittacus Lore)?

That book is so good. It was exciting without being corny or cheesy. It features fun ideas that teens actually think about, like having super powers. I’ve read the first three books in the series. I haven’t gotten to “The Fall of Five,” yet, but I plan on it.

Eating?

Watching?

Well, as always, I’ve been eating a lot of sushi and Korean food at home, like kimchi jigae (a soup-like dish). I like Soyo Frozen Yogurt and Delights a lot too. I like Chipotle, which by the way is so much better than Qdoba.

I don’t watch much TV. Whenever I do turn on the TV, I specifically look for “The Big Bang Theory” and “Phineas and Ferb,” because “Phineas and Ferb” is a classic. I like to watch it; it’s so funny. I don’t watch very many movies; I haven’t seen any new movies recently. The only movie I’ve seen lately is “Gravity.” I appreciated it fully afterwards. It was well made, and it seemed like you were really in space. It was unreal but realistic at the same time.

Changing

Listening?

I really like Lorde. I enjoy all of her music. I listen to pretty much all of her songs on Spotify. I don’t really follow music trends; I just listen to a certain

november 19, 2013

photo by jen siegel

Not so much. I’m really scared to drive. I don’t want to start. I just don’t want to get behind the wheel because I’m a bit afraid. I don’t trust myself that much when it comes to driving. I don’t want to start driver’s ed. right away either.

state senator jim brochin discusses the evolution of his opinion on gay marriage to Spectrum Nov. 7 in room 216. Brochin opposed the subject at first, but after developing a personal relationship with two dads, chose to vote for gay marraige because he said he didn’t want to stand on the side of hate.

For the full story by Tionne Barmer and Holly Sutly, see our website. photo by kalie paranzino

Gamers anticipate, eye new platforms critically henry harsel & jordan nicolette, staff writers hen Microsoft and Sony announced that they would each be creating new game systems, the video game society energized.

“These will be the most anticipated console releases in gaming history,” freshman Daniel Krugman said.

The release dates for the PS4 and Xbox One are Nov. 15 and 22. The closeness of the release dates causes at least one student some suspicion.

“They are only releasing them so close together so both can sell more with the more competition,” junior Andrew Josefson said.

Both systems were designed with a certain theme in mind. The Xbox One aims to make all the technology that is needed available in one system. The

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junior Andrew Josefson plays “Call of Duty: Black Ops 2” on his Xbox 360 earlier this month photo by henry harsel

Playstation Four focuses more on the actual gaming experience: improving graphics, smoothness and realism to intensify each game even more.

Each system has introduced a new controller to go along with the gaming. For some, this small detail can have a big impact on their choice of console.

“The PS4 controller looks new and high-tech; the Xbox controller just looks the same,” freshman Cade Dickens said.

According to gamingblend.com, the PS4 has twice as many pre-orders as Xbox One. The Xbox One is scheduled to debut at $500, while the PS4 is opening at $400; however, gamers are not too happy about the raised prices for both consoles.

“The price of the Xbox One and PS4 are outrageous; it would be a waste to buy them now. I’m just going to wait until the prices drop,” sophomore Zach Larabee said.

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Along with paying for the systems themselves, gamers buying the Xbox One also have to buy Xbox Live Gold, a feature allowing players to enjoy the games with their friends online. This is an additional $60 per year; however, the PS4 offers free online play to its users.

“I wouldn’t want to pay more for the system and then have to pay an additional fee just to play with my friends,” freshman Evan Song said.

Not every avid gamer has hundreds of dollars that they are willing to spend.

“I’m going to stick with my Xbox 360 because PS4 and Xbox One are too much money to be worth it,” sophomore Demitri Garcia said.

At least one student thinks that the gaming tides are about to turn.

“Microsoft better watch out, because the PS4 is about to take over,” junior Tim Chesser said.

the griffin

11 features

november 19, 2013

an among us: actress contributes on and off stage

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kalie paranzino, features editor or some, St. Ambrose School’s kindergarten production of “The Wizard of Oz” is long forgotten. For senior and actress Gabby Tyson, it’s a memorable beginning.

Since her acting debut, Tyson has performed in four high school productions.

She held a minor role in “Totally Over You” her freshman year, but went on to hold lead roles in the 2011 production of “Big Love,” last spring’s production of “Urinetown” and last fall’s production of “Curtains.”

“She’s fearless. She’s absolutely fearless,” drama technical director David Schein said of Tyson.

Ironically, the thespian said she has one huge case of stage fright.

“I shake, my voice stutters, I get squeaky.

But the best performers have stage fright,” Tyson said.

In fact, Tyson spent the moments before her first lead performance crying in a corner of the band room until then theater teacher Liz Garrett offered her words of wisdom.

“She lightened my eyes up on theater,” Tyson said, recalling the experience. And yes, Tyson went on.

Once those lights hit, her excitemnet overcomes her anxiety.

“It’s about that feeling, that feeling when you get on stage,” Tyson said. “It’s amazing. You can enter a whole ‘nother world. Reality doesn’t matter anymore.”

Last year during “Twelve Angry Jurors,” Tyson began student directing. Further work offstage continues this year. Tyson is an acting coach and costume fairy for the drama department’s Dec. 5-7 production of “Midsummer’s Jersey.”

“She knows so many acting exercises it’s not even real,” junior student director Brady Widener said.

Tyson works with the actors and actresses to improve their histrionics (emotion) and help them better fit their characters. She honed her coaching skill this past summer at a directing camp at New York’s Julliard School, where she aspires to attend college.

SENIOR Gabby Tyson (right) coaches junior Anna Steuerman for the fall play “Midsummer’s Jersey,” which runs Dec. 5-7. photo by kalie paranzino

“It’s usually for teachers but I begged and pleaded to sit in,” Tyson said.

Inspired from the camp, Tyson wrote her first two serious monologues. She’s keeping those to herself, for now at least.

She has also written poetry and won several accolades, including an award from

the American Institute of Poetry for her poem “Whither Away.” She writes songs too, usually on the depressing side and not for radio, Tyson said.

“Art is expression. It’s whatever you want it to be,” Tyson said. “It’s just what I do.”

Lorde’s keen observations, breathy voice, subversive lyrics appeal

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avalon bonlie, staff writer orde, 17, has been signed to Universal for nearly a third of her life. With her song “Royals,” she became the first female solo artist to top the Nielson Alternative Charts since before she was born. The young New Zealander released her debut album “Pure Heroine” Sept.

28. Among its lineup are summer hits “Royals” and “Tennis Court.”

Lorde has something that many in the modern music industry don’t quite have - talent. It’s re-

LORDE

photo from facebook

freshing to see a quirky, subversive introvert dominate charts in a world where female pop artists usually range from Gaga’s sexy surrealism to Katy Perry’s Candyland burlesque. Her beautifully breathy voice resembles Lana Del Ray’s but with a more sincere and emotional execution.

A people-watcher, Lorde writes insightful lyrics about her peers and things around her with an unique, off-kilter bravado.

She realizes this, saying in a recent Vevo interview, “I’m not booty-popping in the club, and have

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something to say. People find it inThe most resonant lyrics of the teresting.” album are its first and final words.

She derides the music industry by It begins with “Don’t you think comparing the music’s excess to its that it’s boring how people talk,” pedestrian audience. Her disdain is in “Tennis Court” and finishes off particularly evident with lines like, with “Let them talk,” in “A World “we didn’t come from money,” and Alone”. Both are remarkably ma“but every song’s like gold teeth, ture perceptions for someone of Grey Goose, trippin’ in the bath- any age.

My favorites are “White Teeth room,” in “Royals”.

At times her lyrics even feel like Teens” and “Ribs” by a hair. “Pure a spiritual exploration. (“We might Heroine” is wonderful, relatable be hollow but we’re brave,” in “400 and memorable, and I hope my felLux” and “It feels so scary getting low Kiwi’s success is here to stay. old,” in “Ribs”). They’re striking overall rating: because of their honesty.

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the griffin

12 features

november 19, 2013

Lions rock with the red... ...and roll with the white

homecoming week. While supported by her teammates, senior Mandy Yang cheers toward the crowd at the Nov. 2 homecoming game. Juniors Emma Patron and Jess Bohn and senior Becca King rush onto the field at pep rally Oct. 31. Clarinetist and freshman Allison Lins performs the James Bond 007 field show as part of the Lions Roar Marching Band at the homecoming game. For more photos from homecoming week, see photo gallery on our website. photos by kalie paranzino and jen siegel

MEMOIR:

Color guards’ challenges allure self-proclaimed geek meredith riley, contributing writer few days after a performance, I’m still finding red glitter in my hair.

The aftermath of a marching band performance could be compared to what follows a sparkle tsunami. Is Senior BBQ paint still in your hair? I dare you to try to pick sparkles out of your scalp, and don’t even get me started on “guard hair.”

I would also challenge you to step one foot in the guard room on game day. If there are three things to associate with color guard on performance day besides flags, it’s bruises, hairColor Guard. Sophomore Meredith Riley spray and screaming. launches a routine this fall.

In case you didn’t know, color photo from facebook

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guard is actually the only reason anyone looks at marching band.

We’re the ones with the flags and are the secret stars of the show, or so we say. Yeah, you could say I’m biased, but who says it’s not true?

I remember the first time I saw the Lion’s Roar Marching Band.

I was in eighth grade, and they performed at the open house for incoming freshmen. I immediately noticed the color guard, because really, how hard is it to miss 20 unitard-clad girls spinning 5-foot poles? I couldn’t look at anything else. I remember leaning over to my mom and whispering, “I want to do that next year.”

While we may look like angels

in velvet cat suits, it’s more intense than we get credit for. As my darling leader so aptly put it, color guard is a mix of dancing and the military. But that’s the fun of it. That feeling you get when you complete your first successful 45 toss? Incomparable. When you finally master the choreography that’s been tripping you up for weeks? Amazing. And let me tell you, it does not get much better than performing. The minute you start the choreography, that flag is the personification of your most fantastic dreams.

This May, I’ll be auditioning to take my friend’s place as color guard leader when she graduates. I’ve started working on my

audition already, because I honestly love color guard to pieces.

To miss out on this opportunity would be heartbreaking. I want someone to look at me and lean over to their mother like I did two years ago. That is the reason I smile at performances; that is the reason I love it so much.

I want to inspire someone to join color guard; I want them to see the joy of performing. Color guard is my dream, and I want to pass that on to someone else before I graduate.

Reading this, you must be thinking, “Wow, what a band nerd!” and that’s where you’re wrong.

I’m a guard geek, and I’m so proud.

Spooky theme makes homecoming seasonal

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chloe messier, staff writer & thea zurek, features editor he 2013 Hallway Wars started out like any other.

Class of 2014 President Lindsay Edwards stood on a desk in the center of the foreign language hallway, addressing the crowd of 23 or so seniors who had volunteered to help decorate their grade’s assigned hall.

“Okay, so Kendra and Aaliyah will do balloons, Justin will do signs and… is Seyeon here?”

The group, clad in American themed garb, scanned for their classmate Seyeon Kim. Suddenly they spotted her, hurrying down the hall towards them.

“Seyeon, you’re murder scene.” Edwards said.

“Yay!” Kim said.

“Murder Scene” might not seem like a typical hallway decorating assignment, but then again, this isn’t a typical Hallway Wars. This year, the decorating supplies weren’t just streamers and poster boards-they’re bloody plastic feet and furry black spiders. Students didn’t just hang streamers and make signs- they sketched serial killers, splattered pink paint blood all over faux corpses and scrawled “Beware” on every available window. This wasn’t just any Hallway Wars- this was Haunted Hallway Wars. And students’ reactions to this creepy change, this devilish difference, this monstrous modification that took an innocent homecoming tradition and pumped it full of ghouls, grimaces and gore? Surprisingly positive.

“Believe it or not, it’s way easier to find Halloween decorations at Halloween time than it is to find Mardi Gras dec-

orations near Halloween,” Class of 2016 vice president Jessica Bishai said, referring to last year’s Mardi Gras theme. Junior Lyra Morina also liked the 2013 theme better than last year’s.

“Actually I’m not even sure what last year’s theme was because you couldn’t tell” Morina said, adding that this year’s theme is more recognizable. Class of 2016 sponsor Kellie Fialcowitz also spoke in favor.

“It gets you in the mood for Halloween” she said.

Despite the structured plan Class of 2015 Vice President Sarah Hampton devised, decorating the hallway in the allotted hour proved difficult. A mere ten juniors showed up ready to help.

“I think the participation was so low because last year’s hallways weren’t great,” Hampton said.

In spite of limited numbers, the juniors were declared winners of Hallway Wars at the Nov. 1 pep rally. That afternoon, students were cursed with taking down all the decorations. Informed of this duty during the Oct.28 decorating session, one sophomore girl double-checked with her classmates.

“Oh, do we have to come back and clean this stuff up?” she asked.

“Yeah” confirmed a classmate. Behind, in front and above them stretched a vast expanse of streamers, balloons, posters, window decals, banners and window paint.

“Bet you no one shows up for that,” she said.

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Juniors Sarah Hampton (behind) and Sophie Golden (front) work together to hang spooky decorations in the Class of 2015 hallway during the Oct. 28 Hallway Wars. The junior class was announced the winner of the competition at pep rally Nov. 1. photo by lucia tarantino